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42 The Dairyman SEPTEMBER 2010
ANIMAL HEALTH
WHEN Pieter Ebeling's calves
were struck by rotavirus scours
a few years ago, the repercus-
sions spread beyond the half dozen or so
calf deaths and the stress felt by those
looking after the calves.
Some calves survived the outbreak, but
they never thrived.
"They would come up empty or just
grow into scungy heifers," Pieter recalled.
"Even if they made it into the milking
herd, they couldn't hack the pace by the
end of the season. If they didn't get put
down when they were first sick, they were
culled later."
Pieter farms at Lichfield, between
Tokoroa and Putaruru. He milks 390 cows
-- mostly Friesians -- on the 135ha proper-
ty he owns, and has been dairy farming
ever since he arrived in New Zealand
from the Netherlands in 1977.
He said scours had always been present
but only at a very low level, and he'd
never lost calves before. When the bad
outbreak occurred, diagnostic testing
eventually identified rotavirus as the cul-
prit and Pieter took his vet's advice to
start a vaccination programme with
Rotavec Corona.
He's maintained the annual programme
ever since, and has been rewarded with
consistent control of calf scours.
Pieter said the vaccination was another
cost that the business must carry and
admitted that he and his dairy farming
neighbours have had to look very hard at
all costs over the past three years. Despite
the recent announcement of an increased
payout forecast, Pieter said farm costs for
products such as maize supplements had
shot up in recent seasons.
But despite the tough season just ended
and increasing farm costs, he remains
convinced that protecting against another
outbreak of rotavirus scours is well worth
the continued investment.
Rotavirus survivors struggle to perform
Despite pressure on farm costs, Pieter Ebeling has maintained his rotavirus
vaccination programme.
AONE-SHOT vaccination of the cow
with Rotavec Corona, between 12
and three weeks prior to calving,
will result in high levels of antibodies in the
colostrum of the vaccinated dam, explains
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health
Veterinary Adviser, Peter Blaikie. "This
nine-week 'window' is important," he said.
"It gives flexibility when it comes to
scheduling vaccination, but vaccination
needs to be planned. Outside this nine-
week span, the colostral antibodies will be
markedly reduced.
Peter said good colostrum feeding was
vital.
"For the best result, calves must get 2-2.5
litres of immediate post-calving colostrum
from the vaccinated cow within 6-12 hours
of birth while intestinal absorption is at its
best and colostrum antibodies are at their
highest. They then need 2.5-3 litres of
stored or fresh colostrum daily during the
first two-three weeks (longer if possible) to
provide the crucial localised protection at
gut level.
"Colostrum from the first three or four
milkings contains by far the most antibod-
ies, and rotavirus antibodies courtesy of the
vaccination, so it makes sense to ensure
newborn calves get fed this colostrum."
High levels of antibodies in colostrum
PTO EFFLUENT PUMP
ROVATTI
- Lubricated seal - Heavy duty gearbox
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MORRINSVILLE
NZ1110327